Life Saving Program Opens for Round Two

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP has today announced that local sporting clubs across our region are now eligible to apply for the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, with the NSW Government providing life-saving technology to people experiencing cardiac emergencies.

The program commenced in 2017 and provides grants to community sport clubs for half the cost of purchase and maintenance of an Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Mr Ward said that access to defibrillators in sporting clubs increases the chance of survival by up to 75 per cent for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

“For many of our residents, access to a defibrillator could be the difference between life or death,” he said.

“I have presented a number of defibrillators to some excellent community organisations across our region, including the Shoalhaven City Turf Club, The Arbour in Berry, St Luke’s Anglican Church in Berry, the Gerringong Breakers Football Club and the North Nowra Community Centre.

“Across the State, the NSW Government will aim to provide more than 2,500 life-saving defibrillators to local communities and I strongly urge eligible local clubs to consider applying,” Mr Ward said.

The NSW Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres said the Local Sport Defibrillator Program has assisted over 400 sporting organisations attain the life-saving technology during the first round of the programs scheduled four year duration.

“With over 7,000 people experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest in NSW every year, immediate access to CPR and defibrillation at local sports grounds is vital,” Mr Ayres said.

“In 2018, we hope to increase the availability of defibrillators at community-based sports facilities and improve the likelihood of survival for incidents of cardiac arrest.”

“Clubs receive 50 per cent towards the funding and maintenance of a defibrillator, with clubs in NSW’s Far West region set to benefit from a 75 per cent co-contribution from the program.